Submitted to NAL from Niagara, Ontario’s regional goverment
(A Brief Note from NAL – Kevin Smith from the Niagara Region’s EMS services should not be confused with Kevin Smith, the temporary, Ontario government appointed supervisor for the Niagara Health System in charge of most hospital services in the region.)
NIAGARA REGION, March 14, 2013 – Niagara Region Public Health is pleased to announce the new chief of Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Kevin Smith, effective April 28, 2013.
Niagara’s incoming EMS chief Kevin Smith
Smith has spent his entire paramedic career in Niagara and area with over 21 years of proven excellence in clinical and administrative emergency medical service environments, including operations superintendent and commander of operations, and most recently as Niagara EMS deputy chief since 2008. He is known for his lifelong learning, through both formal and continuing education. This has been demonstrated most recently as he received his Bachelor of Applied Business: Emergency Services, with distinction, in 2010. Knowledge exchange is two-way for Smith, as he’s also spent nearly ten years as a Paramedic Program Educator with Niagara College.
“We’re delighted that Kevin has accepted this new role. Given his years of service, this transition ensures continuity within NEMS and builds on many positive and well-established relationships within the Region and with our many community partners,” said Mike Trojan, Chief Administrative Officer, Niagara Region.
“Kevin has exceptional leadership skills, proven professional experience, and outstanding interpersonal abilities that will continue to help shape the role of the EMS profession both locally and globally,” stated Dr. Valerie Jaeger, Medical Officer of Health for Niagara region.
Niagara EMS, as part of Niagara Region Public Health, is committed to providing high quality, emergency, pre-hospital care to all residents and visitors to Niagara with responsibility for managing a budget over 36 million dollars. The service is made up of advanced care and primary care paramedics, system status controllers (emergency medical dispatchers), 17 ambulance bases across the region and one community response unit.
(Niagara At Large encourages all visitors to this site to share their views on this post or any other posts NAL has posted. Divergent views are most welcome in the spirit of NAL’s goal to operate as a virtual town hall for discussing and debating issues of interest and concern to residents in the greater Niagara region.)
Niagara At Large 
Perhaps this Kevin Smith should be differentiated from the other one by a name change,,,Kevin G. G. Smith {good guy}.He is a well respected medical professional by everyone who has watched the NHS dump extra responsibility and financial strain on the NEMS services. We have yet to hear the financial and resource strain that the removal of services from Welland and NFwill cost the Regional taxpayers. Closing Fort Erie and Port was an extra $3 million so you can expect to hear at least that amount or more as extra mileage is piled on our first responders.
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Nor, may I add, should anyone confuse these two with the Kevin Smith who advertizes his Botox, vein treatment etc. with huge billboards all over Niagara.
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Excellent choice. Under the leadership of John Cunnane, Niagara EMS has done a wonderful job adapting to the many changes in hospital service delivery foisted upon us by the NHS and the HIP. The appointment of Kevin Smith should ensure that the good work continues. I just hope that Niagara’s paramedics are not going to bear the brunt of the upcoming loss of services in south Niagara.
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John Cunnane, has had an awful time dealing with the NHS, they made his job a nightmare the service was unable to get critical patient’s into the Emergency Unit’s because of the cut backs in services through out the NHS system, his staff saved many lives by taking heart attack patients up to Hamilton. John Cunnane was given a thankless position and used his expertise to carry on his life saving mandate.I wish him all the best in his retirement, he has earned it.He was a customer of mine in Chippawa.so I saw a lot of him.
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There is also an up-and-coming Conservative student leader at Brock University by that name and an actor/director that occasionally goes by the name “Silent Bob”.
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Congratulations, Kevin! It’s great to see you in this position and to know you’re doing well
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